Supporting active role of women in knowledge-based ecosystem

A group of women entrepreneurs and innovators working in knowledge-based companies have spoken about their concerns and the challenges they face as they engage in knowledge-based activities during a meeting with Iran’s Vice President for Science, Technology and Knowledge-based Economy Rouhollah Dehghani Firouzabadi.

The vice president noted the unique capabilities of women in helping with the growth and development of the Iranian knowledge-based economy, saying the fruition of an innovative idea and completing the stages of growth and maturity up until reaching the market stage are exhausting and time-consuming and require consistency. 

He added that given their perseverance, efforts and motivation, women can handle this task and bring their ideas to  full fruition. 

Dehghani stressed that the knowledge-based ecosystem is capable of giving those active in the field freedom and the right to choose in their roles, saying men and women have different traits and a platform must be provided for each person to fulfill their potential in society according to their interests and capacities. 

The vice president said women work as CEOs in more than 1,000 out of over 8,400 knowledge-based companies while 17% of the shares of the companies are owned by women. Dehghani added that half of the students and 30% of academic board members of universities are also women.